Index file



H. E. ELSDEN June 9, 1953 INDEX FILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1952 AF/G.5.

Patented June 9, 1953 INDEX FILE Herbert Edward Elsden, Dublin, Ireland, assigner to Sendel Limited, Dublin, Ireland, a company of Ireland Application January 18, 1952, Serial No; 267,034 In Great Britain November 1, 1951 This invention relates to index les of they kind having a number of index strips.v or leaves secured at their rear edges to a suitable attachment means, and overlapping each other Widthwise so that drawings or other papers can be placed between each adjacent pair of strips. An example of such an index file is disclosed in British patent specication No. 634,709 in which the rear ends of the strips are mounted on pegs carried by a baseboard and the forward ends are turned back to form index parts. It is found, however, that such parts were not convenient as they could become bent and the index numerals thereon would become worn and said parts were somewhat bulky.

According to the present invention I provide an index file having a row of index strips secured at their rear margins in overlapping disposition sideways across the iile and having their front edges bent up and back for a distance of at least three inches and suiicient to enable these ends to lie by reason of their weight substantially flat whether bent back or brought forward, each said strip except the last lying when folded 'back within the next folded strip, said strips being arranged so that they lie neatly folded within each other and enclose the front edges of the papers.

The strips may be permanently secured to the rear edge of a rigid baseboard land are covered by a cover sheet which is also attached to the rear edge of the baseboard.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an index file made in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof from a different viewpoint;

Figure 3 is a part plan View thereof with a cover sheet removed;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 5 is also a side elevational view but with the index parts in a different position; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the file showing papers in position and some of the parts turned back.

The le comprises a series of index strips I0 attached at their rear margins between tapered clamping strips Il, l2 as more particularly described in the specification of applicants copending application No. 267,035, led January 18, 1952. The clamping strips are fixed to a baseboard I4 and a cover sheet l5 is attached at its rear edge to the upper clamping strip Il.

The index strips I0 overlap each other sideways 4 claims. (c1. 12e-15) across the le and are longer than the baseboard front to back dimension. Their front ends are turned back to form index parts Il which correspondingly overlap sideways across the baseboard to provide projecting margins it on which index numerals or the like can be written.

The front edges i8 of the index strips are bent to a slight angle to the front edge 20 of the baseboard so that the strips at the front bent back ends lie snugly within each other so that the line of all the edges lil is `approxin'lately parallel to the edge 20.

The strips Il should be made of sheet material which is stilienough to maintain its shape Without wrinkling in use but sufnciently exible to permit the index parts to be bent backwards and forwards through (from the inward positions to the outward positions) without cracking. It is found that this can be achieved by the use of manila paper having a thickness of from 0.006 inch to 0.009 inch.

rihe length of the index parts Il depends on the weight and therefore width and thickness of the material. The width of the strips cannot conveniently be less than two inches or they will not lie neatly within each other after re peated use and the width may be from two to eight inches or preferably four to six inches. The length of the index parts can then be from three to -ten inches and preferably rive to nine inches. The strips may overlap each other to leave margins of labout one quarter of an inch to one and a half inches and in order that they shall -always lie neatly together each strip except the last should overlap the -adjacent strip by at least sixty per cent of its width and preferably at least seventy-five per cent of its width.

The front edges I5 of the folded strips are preferably spaced from the :front edge 20 of the baseboard from one-sixteenth Aof an inch to one inch and the front edge of the cover sheet is preferably level with the front edge of the baseboard.

The index parts may be provided during manufacture by locating all the strips at their rear edges in proper overlapping disposition, placing a thin edge of a ruler near the front edge of the baseboard, bending the index parts il of the strips back over the ruler, and pressing down the strips at the bend. This method results in the strips being slightly inclined at their front folded edges to the front edge of the baseboard so that each strip except the last lies neatly within the adjacent strip but With one edge projecting to carry the indexingr numerals or the like.

In use as shown in Figure 6 the index part appropriate to the drawing required to be removed, or space in which it is to be inserted, is observed and all the index parts to the left of that selected index part are turned through 180 i. e., are turned up and forwards as at 2l. A11 the remaining index parts as at 22, together with the strips thereof and drawings 25 enclosed thereby, are bent up and rearwardly to disclose the required drawing 26 or space. When the parts are replaced all the index numerals are readily visible and the front edges of the drawings are piotected by the front fold of the strips.

Additional strips 30, 3| on top of the index strips are held at their rear margins between the clamping strips and serve to hold down thev papers placed in the le and to stiifen the assembly at spaced apart positions at the front of the file where it is generally held in the fingers of the user.

I claim:

1. An index file for receiving loose papers having a, stiff backboard, a pair of clamping strips disposed along the rear edge of the backboard, a roW f index strips having their rear margins disposed between said clamping strips overlapping each other sideways across the file and -having .their front ends bent up and back for a distance of at least three inches and sufficient to enable these ends to lie by reason of their weight substantially flat whether bent back or brought forward, each of said index strips except the last lying when folded back within the next folded index strip, said index strips being arranged so that they lie neatly folded within each other enclosing the front edges of the papers, the index strips being made of paper of at least 0.006 inch thickness and are from two to eight inches wide, and each index strip except the last overlapping the adjacent strip by at least seventy-flve per cent of its Width, the length of the bent back portion being greater than its width, the overlap leaving the margins on one side of the index strips exposed, said exposed margins being from one quarter to one and a half inches wide, securing means passing through the clamping strips, backboard and index strips, and a flexible cover sheet secured at its rear edge to the remainder of the file.

2. An index file as claimed in claim 1 wherein the paper index strips are made of not more than 0.009 inch thick, and the file having a fabric strip connecting the cover sheet'to the clamping strips and backboard, said fabric strip covering the backs of the clamping strips.

3. An index le for receiving loose papers having a, backboard; a row of index strips having their rear margins located at the rear edge of the backboard, said index strips overlapping each 'other sideways across the file and having their front ends bent up and back for a distance sufiicient to enable these ends to lie by reason of their weight substantially flat whether bent back or brought forward, each of said index strips exceptthe last lying when folded back within the next folded index strip; said index strips being arranged so that they lie neatly folded within each other enclosing the front edges of the papers, the index strips being made of paper and each index strip except the last overlapping the adjacent strip by a substantial portion of its width, the overlap leaving the margins on one side ofthe index strips exposed; securing means passing through the backboard and index strips; and a cover sheet secured at its rear edge to the remainder of the le.

4. An index le as claimed in claim 3, wherein the paper index stubs are not more than 0.009 inch thick; and the file having a fabric strip connecting the cover sheet to the backboard.

HERBERT EDWARD ELSDEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 810,677 Rosenberg et al. Jan. 23, 1906 1,012,429 Pope Dec. 19, 1911 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 634,709 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1950 

